Theyweren'tkidding. This game is hard. Holy shit, this game is hard. I don't think I've ever played a game where it took me four hours to get to the THIRD STAGE before. This game rules.

I don't think I'll be sleeping this weekend.

(oh, and props to mpyne, who kicks *major* ass for dropping Ikaruga to me in the mail. The note he placed in the case reads "Let me know how Level 3 is. I only ever made it to the boss of Level 2." Holy shit this game is hard.)